Making_A_Change’s BodyBlog

As I mentioned in previous blogs, I am now on a new journey–not just towards a healthy, fit body–but towards the stage. I am going to enter my first figure competition on October 11, 2008 in Hayward, CA. My goal is to place in the top 5 of my class(?), division (?), group(?). I have got to get the vernacular down. Now, if there are only 5 people competiting, then I want to at least be in the Top 3. Initially, I thought I would just be doing this for the experience but, like I tell my students, I need to have high expectations of myself. Othewise, I will find all sorts of excuses not to do my best because it is ‘for experience’. I want to do really well.  I have started doing research on carb cycling and I am going to see how that works (or not) for me over the next 3-4 weeks. I figure if it works, great, I can stick with that throughout my prep. If it doesn’t work, at least I have some information to work with and can make some changes.

While working my back yesterday, Billy saunters by while working with another client and did his–Ooooh, I have something for you tomorrow. That is code for ‘you won’t be able to lift whatever part I am going to tear up’. I give him the ‘bring it on eye’–he knows I love this stuff. Today was heavy weights and high, high sets–I am talking 8 sets! And he wants me to do 10 on my own! Goodness! We worked chest and triceps and I was pumped by the time I left! We are now going to work each part at least twice per week, doing drop sets, and increasing the weights. My body is definitely going to be in shock. But I think this is going to be the thing that changes my legs–they are seriously lagging. And if this will get my butt off of the floor I am all ears.

I am going to take progress pictures this weekend so we can see what the change in program does. He is also going to look at my diet in few weeks. I am going to be keeping my fitday journal (for real this time!) so that when he says ‘it’s go time!" he can look at my intake from the previous few weeks. I am getting my suits from passionfruitsdesign.com.  They have a budget line where you can get your two piece and one piece for under $600 (and this includes adding a few ‘extras’). My goal is to go as budget as I can while still looking good–I can do that! Man, I wish I was a seamstress.

This evening’s workout was about a 7.5 on a 10 point scale. I was able to go heavy on the first two of my four sets. I ended up reducing the weight so I could do 15 reps or so. I was just tired tonight and it took alot to get started. Plus, I didn’t get to do my usual warm-up on the elliptical machine with the handles. I like the way that that machine warms up everything.

I was trying to get a good burn on my abs, but it is becoming increasingly hard. I thing I am getting stronger and I just need to find something new or add more weights,or more reps. I’ll figure it out. I am retaining a bit of water and I am craving the carbs. I know this is going to be the case for the next few days. The key now is to practice discipline during this time. The last thing I want to do is to be six weeks out and fighting carb cravings. I find that when I practice anything I tend to do a bit better. That is the same approach I took when I changed my diet to include more protein.

I am both sore form my previous workouts (a good thing) and hungry (a symptom of ovulation). My daughter and I are going to take it easy and I am going to try and get her in the bed early. She has gotten procrastination down to a science, now. So much so, that I am worn out by the time I get her to get in the bed. Wednesday or Thursday will probably be my off day now that I meet with Billy on Fridays. I just had my fill of Boston Market and I am feeling extra sleepy. I ended up working legs last night. I had no intention of doing that. I went to the old gym there were a bunch of dudes there, and I guess in preparation for the summer, everyone was working upper body. I was due for legs anyway, so I had to pump myself up and get with it: leg press, dead lifts, leg extension, leg curls (which was a little challenging because I have some discomfort behind my knee), and some calf raises. I can’t wait to start the whole diet manipulation for the competition. I wanted a maroon competition suit, but my four year old daughter informed me that maroon, blues, greens, and brown (my favorite) were boy colors. So, I asked her what color should I go with? She insisted on purple. Hmm. It’s deep and regal. I could do that. But she wants to lighter purple–almost lavendar. For her, I will.

And I almost forgot to add that I did a partial pull-up yesterday! I had just finish three sets of hanging knee raises and put my hands on the narrow handles above to rest. I began to pull up, and something felt different. I had been doing jumping pull-ups–sort of getting a jumping start to get my body up.  But there was no jumping. With bent arms and my body straight I slowly pulled myself up. I did it 4 times. I just couldn’t believe it. I tried it from a dead hang and that wasn’t happening, BUT I was able to get a few inches–which is progress!

I would call myself a morning person, now. With some self-talk I am able to get up and to the gym by 5 a.m. But lately, I have been taking advantage of the evening workout. Initially, I was too tired and just didn’t have the energy to do it in the evening–at least that is what I told myself. But with some minor adjustments to the time that I eat that pre-workout meal, I’ve been making it work.

The advantage of working out in the evening is that I can spend over an hour there–no shortcuts. I can get all of my sets in. The Little One is entertained and I get my workout on! Last night was one of those nights when you are lifting, looking at yourself in the mirror, and thinking dang I look really good. You do a little extra flexing between sets, you throw in a few more reps just so you can see your sex face in the mirror and watch the veins pop all, you are so full of yourself that people wouldn’t even recognize who you are. THAT is how I felt last night. It was nice.

I focused on chest, shoulders, triceps, and abs. And I’m SORE today!

This morning’s workout was focused. Unfortunately, the earbuds on my MP3 player are on the fritz. It was so annoying to have the music switching back and forth between my ears and at times, I didn’t have sound at all. I just put the player away and focused on the moves that I was doing. I focused on my form, and weight , and really trying to push as much weight as I could with good form. I really didn’t have a plan today. But I worked on the cables: single shoulder press/squats; v-sits; pullover to a standing tricep press with a 20 pound medicine ball; one-armed squat/shoulder press (25#); alternating bicep curls (25#). I did 4 cycles and used 30# dumbells on my last cycle. Then I did donkey kicks on a bench with my ankle cuffs for 4 sets, then hit the butt machine for 3 sets. Oh, and 3 sets of standing calf raises. When I left the gym I had that nice euphoric feeling–although my butt cheeks are really sore right now–yeah!

Today’s schedule is pretty packed. I just returned from church and in an hour I am leaving for a 4-hour Board Meeting. In bodybuilder style, I jumped into action. This meant that I had to make sure that I had to have my cooler with easy to prepare, high-protein snacks. I had two 28 oz. bottles with that Nectar protein ready to be filled with water from a nearby fountain. I have cottage cheese and fruit to put in it, my protein bars. When I get home, I’ll prepare some salmon. Today, will be a very clean eating day. The passed few days have been extremely hot. I’ve noticed that my body seems to heat up really, really fast and my appetite decreases significantly. I have to admit, I have been going a little heavy on the 100 calorie fudgecicles. They taste so good on hot day, but I have got to find another alternative–like blending ice into my protein shakes or something.

Billy and I had two sessions this week because I am switching to Fridays instead of Mondays. Between our Monday workout (which had me sore), my workouts in between, and our meeting yesterday (which turned out to be somewhat of a full-body deal), I was spent this morning. The only thing that wasn’t sore were my abs, so I worked on them and a bit of shoulders for about an hour. I have been reading a bit about the mind/body connection and studies being done about people making more significant gains when they really focus on the part that they were working. I was one visualizing and squeezing as much as I can. Tomorrow, may be straight-up cardio (HIIT) and stretching. Now, that I am going to be working towards the stage, I am going to have to do a better job of recording my workouts and meals. I’ve gotten good at following my instincts–now I’ve got to write it down.

the number of weeks before my first competition. I am nervous and rejuvenated. It is one thing to workout out for oneself, but it is different to be working towards a very challenging goal. I certainly welcome the challenge. I am concerned about the financial aspect, BUT I am confident in my creative abilities and ability to be resourceful. Plus, I have the support of some very knowledgeable people–on-line and off. I have never been athletic, and it is nice to have finally found a sport that I can participate in and that I can be passionate about. The timeframe is reasonable and I am confident that I can make some significant loses or gains (depending on how you look at it) over the next twenty weeks. This also gives me more structure–fewer opportunities to ‘cheat’. I am extremely excited and very glad that i got the comment to JUST DO IT and not wait for ‘perfection’–which is what I think I was going to do. It is so funny how people you have never met can have such a postive influence on your life. You don’t get regular positive feedback in your daily life and here you literally have cheerleaders!  

I came on this site to ‘lose weight’ and, instead, the quality of my life has improved dramatically. I seek out challenges more, I have put myself ‘out there’, spoken up for myself, and have felt more comfortable in my own skin. While these things certainly are on contingent on your size, it has made such a difference for me.

So, I guess the countdown begins. From what I understand, it is going to fly by!

I have decided to compete next year. Billy and I are working on our plan. He hasn’t taken anyone to the stage and I have never been there, so I am more than happy to be a guinea pig and see what works and what doesn’t. Besides, some of my sheroes on this site competed sans trianer or posing coach! I think the most exciting part of this is the unknown and figuring out how my body works and responds to various programs. For example, I have learned that eating carbs after 4 result in a 2-4 pound retention the following 48 hours. And my body responds to multi-movement excercises and heavy weights. My legs would probably be the last to change (b/c working them really hard makes me want to vomit). And I still don’t have calves and they will require ALOT of work, as well as my triceps. But over the next year, I get to be walking experiment and, most importantly, I can keep as much muscle as possible. Additionally, the financial commitment is no joke. I am a student on an eduator’s salary–not much wiggle room there. But I will also be developing my consulting talents over the year to bring in extra income. I have a plan! I have told some family and friends and now there is no backing down–it has been spoken and written–it is done.

I worked out at my ‘old gym’ and I hink I have finally adjusted fully to the ‘new gym’. It was nice seeing the regulars, though. The odd this is that everyone look exactly the same–exactly the same. The women who were working with the trainers looked the same. I know everyone has different body types and progress will come at different rates for everyone, but after 6 months +, if something isn’t changing you have to re-evaluate everything.

I had a hard time waking up, but the thoughts that finally got me out of bed were: missing more than one workout this week, and having it on my mind all day. I couldn’t go out like that. Once out of the door, though, I felt great and new that I would have a productive workout. Tommorow, is back, quads (squats/lunges), triceps, and abs.

Since the alarm didn’t go off, today is my off day. I have a second session with Billy on Friday. We are switching our day from Mondays to Friday. I have to say, some days I think he is more juiced about my progress than I am. And believe me, that is hard to do! He laughs at my double workouts 2-3 days per week. But really, the little one makes that possible because she likes being at the gym as much as I do. This is what I wanted becuase I want her to think that being fit and healthy is ‘normal’. Now, the kids at my school ask if I am drinking a protein shake or my recovery drink. They are really, really funny. But they know that I take my health seriously, and that I work out regularly and that I want to be as fit as I possibly can. I try to be an example by drinking plenty of water and bringing healthy lunches to school. Man, I am so tired. I am off to try and get Lil Bit to bed and be in the bed by nine.